MEET OUR STUDENTS
Every student at the Village arrives with his/her special strengths and
talents, but also with special needs and problems. Helping each child overcome
the difficulties and obstacles in order to develop and achieve is a challenge
which the Village staff readily and eagerly undertakes.
N was born in Israel, but raised in Germany where his father established a
business. Unfortunately, N’s mother who suffered from mental illness succumbed
to her death three years ago. Her death was traumatic both for N and for his
father, whose business failed following his wife’s death, leaving him
unemployed. N’s father feels he is unable to leave Germany and return to Israel
because he has another son living in Germany who cannot leave and needs his
support. But he wanted a better life for N who felt completely alone and
abandoned after his mother’s death. So, N’s father brought him to Israel where
he has grandparents who are warm and caring, but unable to care for N
full-time.
Therefore, at the age of 12, when he entered the 7th grade, N came to live and
study at the Village. The adjustment was not easy. N was hyperactive, a poor
student and traumatized by the circumstances which led him to live at the
Village. N is now in 9th grade – his 3rd year at the Village. Gradually, he has
adjusted to Village life, has made friends, has calmed down considerably and
has begun to improve in his studies. N loves basketball and is an outstanding
player. This has been the key to his success. Through basketball, N is
gradually developing a positive self image, is gaining confidence and has made
friends and become accepted by his peers.
A made aliyah with his parents and his grandfather from Russia when he was
three years old. When A was five years old, his father was killed in a
terrorist attack - leaving his mother widowed, alone and traumatized. They
moved in with A’s grandfather who became A’s main support as his mother has not
been able to function successfully since her husband’s tragic death. When,
during this past summer, the grandfather was diagnosed with terminal cancer, it
was decided to place A in the Village where he entered the 9th grade. A is
intelligent but extremely sensitive and in need of psychological help. His
academic achievement is far below the average student at the Village, but he
was accepted without question because of his need to be in a protective
environment such as the Village can offer. A has been accepted by his peers and
has made friends – which is an important first step. His dream is to play the
drums – and he is now studying in the Village Music Center. Perhaps this will
give him the “push” that he needs to overcome his problems and improve his
studies.
K made aliyah with her parents at the age of 9. Her parents divorced and her
father returned to the Ukraine and there is no contact with him. K came to the
Village in the 9th grade. She is an excellent student and an active participant
in the Village extra-curricular activities. She is responsible and well-liked
by her peers. It was only after she became close to her counselors and began to
confide in them that it was realized that K’s mother had abused her repeatedly
throughout her childhood and K fears her greatly. This Fall, K’s mother
abruptly left Israel and returned to the Ukraine – leaving K alone in Israel
with no relatives and no home – other than the Village. But, she still has a
“hold” on K – calling her from the Ukraine and demanding money – which K has
earned by working at the Village. K is now a senior at the Village. The support
of her friends and the staff has enabled K to continue to perform successfully
in every area. K knows that she can count on the Village to be her home – even
as she will graduate and enter the I.D.F. in the coming year.
K lives in the town of Ofakim, where her family settled upon making aliyah from
the Ukraine in 2009. K’s parents are divorced and there is no contact with the
father who remained in the Ukraine. K has 2 younger brothers. Her mother has
not been successful in learning Hebrew or in holding down a job. They are
destitute. In desperation, K’s mother placed her in an ultra-Orthodox boarding
school at the beginning of the academic year. K did not adjust there, and it
was arranged for her to be transferred to the Village after the first month. K
is in 10th grade and is slowly making the adjustment to Village life, is making
friends and is starting both to concentrate on her studies and to become
involved in extra-curricular activities.
E & M are Israeli-born brother and sister living in Jerusalem. Their
parents are divorced and there is no contact with the father who is now married
for the 3rd time. The children spent time with their mother in a shelter for
battered women; their father was jailed for a period of time. Their mother is
emotionally disturbed, unable to work and functions only minimally. She depends
on the social services and neighborhood charities for food and clothing and is
provided with a small apartment by welfare. E is in his 3rd year at the Village
and is in the 9th grade. M is in her 2nd year at the Village and is in the 8th
grade. Hopefully, their younger brother who is living at home with his mother
will be able to come to the Village also next year, when he will enter the 7th
grade. E had many problems when he entered the Village. There were several
incidents of theft, but the incidents ceased as soon as E adjusted to life at
the Village. He is an average student. M is an above-average student. Both E
& M are very relieved and happy to be living at the Village. They visit
their mother and brother on free weekends but are delighted to return to their
“Village home” on Sunday mornings. The Village is providing them with a sense
of security and well-being which they never had, and preparing them for a
successful and independent future.